By the time your baby's nearing 6 months old, your thoughts will turning to weaning them onto solids. And if you're thinking of starting off with purees or with a combination of purees and finger food, you'll need plenty of ideas up your blending and mashing sleeves – to make sure your baby's getting a good variety of different tastes and flavours.

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Purees (cooked or uncooked fruit and vegetables blended to a soft, semi-liquid consistency) are easy starter foods for weaning babies to swallow, as the texture is so smooth.

You may want to start by offering a single vegetable (such as carrot) or single-fruit (such as apple) puree but, in no time at all, you'll be mixing different fruit and veg together in more flavoursome combinations – and adding protein in the form of cheese, lentils, meat or fish.

And though you should be starting to move your baby onto lumpier food by 7 or 8 months, many purees still have a place beyond this point – as a veggie sauce for pasta, for example, or as a fruity dessert, stirred into yoghurt.

Here's our pick of the best baby puree recipes for weaning babies...

1. Carrot puree

carrot-puree_42227

One of the go-to purees for those very first mouthfuls. Suitable from 6 months.

2. Simple apple puree

apple puree

A super-quick-to-make starter puree – that makes a lovely dessert at all ages. Suitable from 6 months.

3. Banana and apple puree

banana-and-apple-puree_42224

A delicious 2-fruit puree. Lovely combined with yoghurt or porridge, too. Suitable from 6 months.

4. Sweet potato puree

sweet-potato-puree_42273

A tasty first-flavours puree, packed with vitamin C. Suitable from 6 months.

5. Simple pear puree

pear puree

The quickest of single-fruit purees to make for your baby. Suitable from 6 months.

6. Butternut squash puree

butternut squash puree

Made with roasted squash and a drizzle of olive oil. Suitable from 6 months.

6. Courgette, pea and kale puree

courgette pea and kale puree

A green-veg trio that takes less than 20 minutes to cook and makes 8 portions. Suitable from 6 months.

7. Broccoli and sweet potato puree

broccoli and sweet potato puree

A tasty 2-veg combo that blends very easily. Suitable from 6 months.

8. Sweet potato and basil puree

sweet-potato-and-basil-puree_42269

It's never too early to add a little herby twist to your baby's first foods. Suitable from 6 months.

9. Sweet potato and pear puree

sweet-potato-and-pear-puree_42271

A freezer-friendly puree that makes up to 10 portions. Suitable from 6 months.

10. Pear and rice puree

pear and rice puree

A super-speedy, slightly textured puree that takes 15 minutes, top. Suitable from 6 months.

11. Parsnip and pea puree

Parsnip and pea puree

Just add frozen peas to the pan that's cooking your parsnip chunks: dead simple. Suitable from 6 months.

12. Avocado and mint puree

avocado-and-mint-puree_42218

A lovely, refreshing no-cook puree. Suitable from 6 months.

13. Pear and swede puree

pear-and-swede-puree_48747

This is a nice sweet-and-savoury-combo puree. Suitable from 6 months.

14. Annabel Karmel's blueberry, pear and banana puree

blueberry pear and banana puree

A speedy and gorgeous-looking 3-fruit puree. Suitable from 6 months.

15. Butternut squash and carroty mash with thyme

butternut squash, carrot and thyme puree

This 2-veg-plus-potato puree has a lovely fresh, herby flavour. Suitable from 6 months.

16. Spiced apple puree

Spiced apple puree

Jazz up a simple fruit puree with a touch of nutmeg and cinnamon. Suitable from 6 months.

17. Butternut squash and banana puree

Butternut squash and banana puree

Roasted squash upscaled with mashed-in ripe banana. Suitable from 6 months.

18. Spinach and roasted carrot puree

Spinach and roasted carrot puree

Easy to make – and packed with flavour. Suitable from 6 months.

19. Avocado and pear puree

avocado-and-pear-puree_42219

Make this unusually delicious green puree with tinned pears and there's no cooking at all. Suitable from 6 months.

20. Orchard fruit puree

Orchard fruit puree

A 10-minute apple, cherry and peach yum-fest. Suitable from 6 months.

21. Summer berry puree

Summer berry puree

A quick and easy fruity medley of blueberries, strawberries and raspberries. Suitable from 6 months.

22. Annabel Karmel's salmon surprise puree

salmon surprise puree

A deliciously cheesy, carroty salmon puree, with a touch of orange juice. Makes 3 portions. Suitable from 6 months.

23. Tropical fruit puree

tropical-fruit-puree_48743

A mango, banana and papaya special. Suitable from 6 months.

24. Annabel Karmel’s peach, apple and strawberry puree

peach apple and strawberry puree

A summery medley of fruits, made just a little thicker with baby rice. Suitable from 6 months.

25. Annabel Karmel’s potato, carrot and sweetcorn puree

potato carrot and sweetcorn puree

Masses of veg, all cooked and pureed together. Suitable from 6 months.

26. Butternut squash and apricot puree

butternut-squash-and-apricot-puree_48742

An unusual – but delicious – flavour combination to try. Suitable from 6 months.

27. Annabel Karmel’s apricot, apple and pear puree with vanilla

apricot, apple and pear puree with vanilla

A classy puree, made with real vanilla pods. Suitable from 6 months.

28. Blueberry, apple and peach puree

Blueberry, apple and peach puree

A super-quick melange of fruits that can be bulked up with yoghurt or mashed banana. Suitable from 6 months.

29. Apple, pear and apricot puree

Apple, pear and apricot puree

A 3-fruit puree that, with a drop of yoghurt, makes a really tasty breakfast Suitable for babies from 6 months.

30. Sweet potato and lentil puree

sweet-potato-and-lentil-puree_42270

A throw-in-the-pot-and-simmer puree with loads of flavour. Suitable from 6 months.

31. Cheesy carrot, parsnip and potato puree

cheesy-carrot-parsnip-and-potato-puree_42228

Root vegetables and cheese make perfect puree partners. Suitable from 6 months.

32. Courgette and cauliflower puree

courgette-and-cauliflower-puree_48748

A 2-veg puree (you can use frozen cauliflower pieces) that makes up to 5 portions.

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Authors

Janet MartinContributor

Janet is mum to two children aged 6 & 9 and a great-Aunt too. She began writing early, penning her first book aged just 7. She has published 2 books

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